bars for a hybrid

[pooks]

I know nothing about handlebars. Or bars. Or whatever the proper term is.

All this talk about different types made me curious, so I went to see what kind are on my bike and I still don't know. The website said:

Alloy Handlebars, 40mm rise

Oh, well, I just googled that and found a pic (only mine are silver) so I guess I do know what kind. It just doesn't have a name like "albatross."

http://www.amazon.com/Alloy-Handleba.../dp/B000GAO348

So now I know they're cheap bars!

What kinds of bars work on a hybrid? I've noticed that by 8 or 10 miles, sometimes my wrists and/or hands give me a little trouble with pain or numbness. I work on changing the way I'm gripping the bars but there aren't many options.

I can post a pic of the bike if that helps. Well, I'll do that now, just in case.



I'm also considering other changes to it, but I guess I'll take them one discussion at a time in different threads.

Thanks.

[mimitabby]

i thought you were getting a new bike!

okay. If your hands hurt that much sounds like the bike isn't fitting you right.
It's not the handlebars that are the problem. they are too far, or too low, or angled wrong..

[pooks]

I want a new bike -- I can't afford a new bike!

They aren't killing me or anything. But then I've never ridden farther than 11 miles, either.

Sigh. I've raised the seat so that my legs are more comfortable and get more power. Let's see what that does to my hands.

As for the problem not being my bars -- okay, maybe not.

So, what are the reasons people use different kinds of bars?

[Bicyclette]

Like Mimitabby said - they could be angled wrong..

I put bar ends on my hybrid to give me more grip options - I love them - I use them more than the top of the handlebar now - and the problems I was having with my thumbs has resolved itself. I also changed out the grips on the bar to a set for smaller hands - they have also helped

[pooks]

Oh, thanks!

There are a lot of different kinds of bar ends, aren't there?

Why am I surprised? Hmmph!

[SadieKate]

Width and degree bend in the bars can have a lot to do with wrist and hand pain. This thread below was specific to mountainbiking but much the same stuff applies.

Not all alloy bars are made the same. A lighter weight bar may absorb more road buzz than another.

Your forearms, wrists and hands should, in relationship to one another, be as straight as possible in all planes. If you hold the bar closer inboard or outboard does it make a difference? If your brakes levers are tipped too far upward and you ride with your fingers out over the levers, you'll cock your wrists upward.

Also, are you using a death grip on the bars?

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...ght=flat+width